Proppants made from filled polymers for use during oil and gas production and associated processes

Abstract

Novel proppants useful in facilitating the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations are disclosed, made from filled polymers such as polyamides and polyesters. A process for the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations using filled polymeric proppants is disclosed.

1 . A process for the hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations, comprising introducing a fluid in which is suspended polymeric particles comprising about 25 to about 75 weight percent of at least one polymer and about 25 to about 75 weight percent of at least one filler, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the particles, into an oil or gas well surrounded by rock such that fractures are created in the rock and some or all of the polymeric pellets flow into the fractures.  
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is one or more polyamide and/or polyester.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the filler is one or more of glass fibers, glass beads, glass powders, silica, quartz, and ceramics.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the filler is one or more of sand, silicon carbide, staurolite, wollastonite, and aluminum oxide.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric particles further comprise about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent of a coupling agent.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling agent is gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the filler has a Mohs hardness of at least about 3.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the filler has a Mohs hardness of at least about 5.  
   
   
       9 . Proppants comprising polymeric particles comprising about 25 to about 75 weight percent of at least one polymer and about 25 to about 75 weight percent of at least one filler, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the particles.  
   
   
       10 . The proppants of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer is one or more polyamide and/or polyester.  
   
   
       11 . The proppants of  claim 9 , wherein the filler is one or more of glass fibers, glass beads, glass powders, silica, quartz, and ceramics.  
   
   
       12 . The proppants of  claim 9 , wherein the filler is one or more of sand, silicon carbide, staurolite, wollastonite, and aluminum oxide.  
   
   
       13 . The proppants of  claim 9 , wherein the filler has a Mohs hardness of at least about 3.  
   
   
       14 . The proppants of  claim 13 , wherein the filler has a Mohs hardness of at least about 5.  
   
   
       15 . The proppants of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric particles further comprise about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent of a coupling agent.  
   
   
       16 . The proppants of  claim 15 , wherein the coupling agent is gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane.